Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-06-03
lIlApIl.Ii wv.
nm. LIST STAND OF TIE GnA

TIE LAST STAND OF THE GRAYS.
In Il few minutes the regiments destined
70 carry ont the thanking movements had
tranpri off in silence, keeping carefully I'M
der the lee of the rising ground, in orler to
conceal the movement from the keen eyes of
Iwalas scouts
liali an hour or more was allowed to
cap7o between the setting out OF the horns
OF wings of the army before any movement
was made by the Grays and the supporting
regiment, known rs the Butialoes. which
were destined to boar the brunt of the battle
Both of these regiments were almost per
iectIy fresh. and of full strength, the Grays
having been In rcScrv, In the morning, and
having lost but small number OF men in
sweeping back that part Of the attack which
Ind proved successful In breaking the line
OF d"icnS", on the occasion when ! charged
with them and got knocked silly for my
PAIN. rs Tor the ButfaIOcs, they had
formed the third line of defense on the left
and as the attacking force at that point had
not succeeded IN breaking through the
second, had scarcely come into action at all
lntadOOS who was a wary old general
and knew the absolute Importance of keep
ing up the spirits of his men on the eve of
such desperate encounter, employed the
pause In addressing his own regiment. the
GfaNS la portcal language; in explaining to
titcm the honor that they were receiving in
being put thu, in the forefront of the battle,
and IN having the great white warrior from
the stars To hight with them in their ranks.
and In promising large rewards of cattle and
promotion Ia all who survived in the event
OF ignnSl $ arms being successful.
Behold Your kngl' ended old lnfadoos
pointing Ia lgnoSi; 20 fight and fall for
him rs is the duty of brave men, and cursed
and shame full forever be the name of him
who Shrinks from death for his king, or who
turns his back to his enemy. Behold YOUR
king chief. captains, and soldiers; now do
Nour homage to the sacred snake, and then
follow ON, that lncuhu aud | may show ye
the road Ia the heart of Twaa's forces"
There was u moments pause, then sudden
II there rose from the Serried phaIanxcs be
tore MS murmur, like the distant whisper
ot the SEA, caused by the gentle tapping of
the handles OF six thousand spears against
their holders shields. Slowly IL swclled.
till its growing volume dcepcned and wider
ed into roar OF rolling noise, that echoed
like thunder against the mountains. and
tiled the air with heavy waves OF sound.
Then it decreased and slowly died away in
10 nothing, and suddenly out crash cd the
royal salute
lguoSi, thought To myself miglR we'll he
n proud man that day, tor no Roman empe-
ror ever had such salutation from gladia-
tons about to die"
ignoSi acknowledged this magnificent act
of homage by lifting his battle-ax, and then
the Gray> filed OIL in u triple lane formation.
each line containing about one thousand
lighting men, exclusive of officers When the
last line had gone some five hundred wards,
lgnoSi put himself at the head of the Butfa-
lucS which regiment was drawn up I'm a
similar three-line formation, and gave the
wont tn march, and off we went l. needless
Ia say, utterjug the most heartfelt prayprs
that | might como out of that lob with a
whole skin. Many queer position have
found self IN. but never before in one
quite ~ unpleasant as the present ur one in
wn'Ca my chance of coming off safe was 50
snLl l.
RN the tim we reached the edge of the
plateau the GaNS were already halfway
down the slope ending in the tongue OF
grassland that ran up into the bend II the
mountain, SOmrthnl' rs the frog of A horses
foot runs up n the sl1c. The excitement in
Twala camp on tie plain heyond was very
great ami regiment after regiment were
starting forward at a long swinging t-ot in
afdtr To reach the root of the tongue Of land
before the attacking force could emerge into
the plain of Loo.
This tongue Of land, which was some three
hundred yards in depth. was even at its root
or widest part not more than one hundred
ant htty PAGES across, while at Its tin I,
SearN"ly measured sixty. The Grays, who,
in passing down the side of the hill and on
10 the Tip of the tongue, had formed in
column, on reaching the spot where il
bro ,dened out again reassumed their Triple
line formation, and halted dead
Then we-that is, the Buffaloes-moyed
down the tip of the tongue and took our
stand in reserve, about one hundred wards
behind the last line of the Grays, and on
slightly higher ground. Meanwhile we had
leisure 10 observe Twala'S entire force,
which had evidently been reinforced since
the morning attack. and could not now, not
wIthStanding their losses, number less than
forty thousand, moving swiftly toward us
But as they drew near the root of the tongue |
they hesitated, having discovered that only |
ole regiment could advance into the gorge at |
a time. and that there, some seventy yards |
irom the mouth OF IL, unassailable except in !
iront, on account of the high walls of bowld- !